Absorbent compositions, methods of forming the same, and animal litter prepared with such compositions
An absorbent composition includes composite granules formed from at least diatomaceous earth and sodium bentonite. The diatomaceous earth can include greater than 50 weight % of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition, and a weight ratio of the diatomaceous earth to the sodium bentonite can be within a range of from 51:49 to 95:5. The individual particles of diatomaceous earth composed of the composite granules have a d 90 particle size of 500 μm or smaller and the individual particles of sodium bentonite composed of the composite granules have a d 90 particle size of 250 μm or smaller.
1 . An absorbent composition comprising:
composite granules comprising diatomaceous earth and sodium bentonite,
wherein the diatomaceous earth comprises greater than 50 weight % of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition, and a weight ratio of the diatomaceous earth to the sodium bentonite is within a range of from 51:49 to 95:5, and
wherein the individual particles of diatomaceous earth composed of the composite granules have a d 90 particle size of 500 μm or smaller and the individual particles of sodium bentonite composed of the composite granules have a d 90 particle size of 250 μm or smaller.
2 . The absorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein the diatomaceous earth comprises greater than 60 weight % of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition.
3 . The absorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the diatomaceous earth to the sodium bentonite is within a range of from 60:40 to 90:10.
4 . The absorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the diatomaceous earth to the sodium bentonite is within a range of from 75:25 to 85:15.
5 . The absorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein the sodium bentonite has a d 90 particle size of 150 μm or smaller.
6 . The absorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein 90 weight % of the composite granules have a particle size distribution within a range of from 250 μm to 4000 μm.
7 . The absorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent composition is completely free of a binder, other than sodium bentonite.
8 . The absorbent composition of claim 1 , further comprising a binder.
9 . The absorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein all solid components that form the absorbent composition consist of the diatomaceous earth and the sodium bentonite.
10 . The absorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein the composite granules are at least partially coated with a polymeric agent.
11 . The absorbent composition of claim 10 , wherein the polymeric agent comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
12 . The absorbent composition of claim 10 , wherein the polymeric agent comprises an amount of 0.5 weight % or less of a total weight of the composite granules.
13 . The absorbent composition of claim 10 , wherein the coated composite granules have a dustiness, as measured by the dustiness method, within a range of 10 to 50 mg/m 3 .
14 . An animal litter comprising the absorbent composition of claim 1 .
15 . The animal litter of claim 14 , wherein the animal litter is a cat litter.
16 . A method of forming an absorbent composition, the method comprising:
mixing diatomaceous earth and sodium bentonite to form a mixture;
spraying the mixture with water to form wet granules;
drying the wet granules; and
crushing and sieving the dried granules to obtain composite granules comprising the diatomaceous earth and the sodium bentonite having desired granular sizes,
wherein the diatomaceous earth comprises greater than 50 weight % of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition, and a weight ratio of the diatomaceous earth to the sodium bentonite is within a range of from 51:49 to 95:5, and
wherein the individual particles of diatomaceous earth composed of the composite granules have a d 90 particle size of 500 μm or smaller and the individual particles of sodium bentonite composed of the composite granules have a doo particle size of 250 μm or smaller.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the water is added to the mixture in an amount within a range of from 10 weight % to 100 weight % of the total weight of the mixture determined prior to adding the water.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein a binder is added to the water prior to spraying the mixture.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the binder comprises sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, starch, dextrin, guar gum, poly(vinyl alcohol), or a combination thereof.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising coating the dried granules with a polymeric agent.
21 . The method of claim 20 , the polymeric agent is polytetrafluoroethylene.